LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Randolph used a dominating offensive performance to defeat Bridgewater, 69-51, in the ODAC men's basketball first round on Monday evening.
Randolph shot 59.1% overall, including 10-for-10 on two pointers in the second half, to take control in the victory at the RAD Center.
With the win, the WildCats advance to the quarterfinals of the ODAC tournament where they will face the top ranked team in the nation and No. 1 seed, Randolph-Macon, at 1 p.m., Thursday at the Salem Civic Center.
In a first half with six lead changes, neither team could open a lead larger than four in the first 10 minutes of the game before Randolph used four straight points from juniorGordon Rogo and a layup by junior Jason Eddie to build a lead of eight.
Bridgewater responded with a 5-0 spurt of its own to cut the lead back to a single possession, but Randolph continued the series of runs with a 10-2 rally to get up double digits for the first time.
After two free throws by Kyle Welty pulled Bridgewater back within nine, junior Corey Brown ensured the WildCats would lead by 11 at the half with a driving layup with time expiring.
While posting an impressive 56.0% field goal percentage in the first half, the WildCats didn't really turn it on until the second, starting with six straight baskets and converting on nine of the first 10 shots.
In the entirety of the frame, Randolph did not miss a single two pointer, making all 10 attempts from inside the arc.
"It all comes down to our defense," Rogo said. "Our defense sets up our offense and we knocked down shots tonight."
A 6-0 run by Bridgewater made Randolph's lead tenuous with 2:07 remaining, but it was not enough.
Randolph received double digit scoring contributions from Rogo (18), Brown (14), junior Zach Desgain (13) and Brown (12).
Rogo and Desgain also each contributed game-highs with nine rebounds and Desgain and first-year Reid Jacoby both had five assists.
The lone Eagle in double figures was Matthew Hunter, who posted 12 points.
Ed Reddick, the ODAC's leading scorer, was 0-for-6 from the floor for four points, marking his season low in scoring.
Reddick, who came in averaging 19.2 points per game this season, has never eclipsed 13 points in his six all-time games against Randolph.
"Reddick is a phemonal player," Desgain said. "Our gameplan was to make everything difficult for him and that carried over to the whole entire defense to make every shot pressured."
Randolph will square off with Randolph-Macon at 1 p.m., Thursday in Salem, Va., in the opener of the ODAC quarterfinals.
On Feb. 14, the Yellow Jackets, then ranked fourth in the nation, built a 21 point lead before the WildCats used an 18-0 run in the second half to get within just three before the rally fell just short.
"Our goal is to stay focused, keep improving in practice and come out with a victory." Brown said of the rematch.
Click here for the ODAC's interactive tournament bracket, with updated pairings listed below.
Quarterfinals - Thursday, February 26 - Salem Civic Center
Game 5: #8 Randolph vs. #1 Randolph-Macon - 1:00 p.m.
Game 6: #5 Lynchburg vs. #4 Eastern Mennonite - 3:00 p.m.
Game 7: #7 Washington and Lee vs. #2 Virginia Wesleyan - 6:00 p.m.
Game 8: #6 Hampden-Sydney vs. #3 Guilford - 8:00 p.m.
Semifinals - Saturday, February 28 - Salem Civic Center
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 - 1:00 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 3:00 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, March 1 - Salem Civic Center
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 1:00 p.m.